Washington Tree Service Insurance
General liability that meets L&I registration, stop gap coverage, equipment, trucks and your contractor bond, for Washington tree services and arborists. Same-day certificates of insurance. Call our Washington line: (509) 355-9480.
What Does a Washington Tree Service Need to Register With L&I?
Washington law includes tree removal services in the definition of a contractor, so a tree service must register with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) before it bids, advertises or works. L&I lists tree removal as its own specialty. Registration requires a $15,000 bond for specialty contractors or $30,000 for general contractors, plus general liability of at least $200,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage, or $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as certificate holder. Specialty contractors can't hire subcontractors, your registration number must appear on every ad and bid, and residential jobs of $1,000 or more need L&I's Notice to Customer. Property managers, HOAs and cities usually still require $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, and a lapse in your bond or insurance suspends your registration.
One fir that drops the wrong way can take out a roof, a car and a power line in a single afternoon. Many "landscaping" policies quietly exclude tree removal, cap the height you can work at, or leave out the house you're working over. City rules stack on top: Seattle, for example, requires tree service providers working on street trees to register with SDOT and name the City as additional insured. The Hard Hat Insurance team, the construction division of Bearstar Insurance Services, places Washington tree care companies with carriers that actually write tree work, sends your bond and certificate to L&I, and reads the exclusions before you sign. Whether you prune in Seattle and Bellevue, run storm removals around Tacoma and Olympia, or clear lots in Spokane and the Tri-Cities, we match your coverage to your registration, your equipment and your contracts.
Commercial General Liability
Tree Service General Liability
General liability pays when your work damages someone else's property or injures someone who isn't your employee. For tree services, the most common claims are limbs or trunks landing on houses, cars, fences and outbuildings; downed power or cable lines; damaged lawns, driveways and septic systems from heavy equipment; and passers-by hurt in the drop zone. That's why a policy written for tree work, with no height limit and no tree-removal exclusion, matters as much as the limit itself.
Limits matched to L&I minimums and your contracts.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when a property manager, HOA or city requires it.
Surety Bonds
Washington L&I Contractor Bond
Every Washington tree service must keep a bond on file with L&I: $15,000 for specialty contractors and $30,000 for general contractors. We can often issue L&I bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
Specialty and general contractor bonds.
Washington is a monopolistic state: workers' comp comes only from L&I, not from private insurers. L&I rates tree care and pruning under its own classification, 0106, and premiums are reported by hours worked. Washington also counts some independent contractors as workers, so uninsured "1099" climbers can end up on your L&I account. Because L&I coverage doesn't include employer's liability, you need stop gap coverage if an injured worker or their family sues you outside the comp system; most commercial contracts require it, and we add it to your GL. We also help you check your L&I account and risk classes so you're not overpaying.
Stop gap (employers liability) endorsement on your GL.
Help with L&I account setup and risk class review.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Bucket trucks, chip trucks, dump trucks, grapple trucks and the trailers that pull chippers and grinders need commercial auto. A personal policy won't cover them, and a towed chipper needs to be listed so it isn't uninsured on the road. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers and the drivers you hire, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Contractor's Equipment
Chippers, stump grinders, saws, climbing and rigging gear and compact loaders aren't covered by general liability. An equipment floater covers theft, fire, vandalism and accidental damage on the job, in the yard or in transit.
Covers equipment on the job, in the yard and in transit.
Rented mini loaders and aerial lifts can be added.
Pesticide & Herbicide Liability: If you spray or inject trees, an applicator's policy covers drift and chemical claims that standard GL excludes.
Bid, Performance & Payment Bonds: For municipal and commercial tree contracts that require them.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): Commercial property managers, cities and utility-adjacent jobs often require $2M to $5M in total liability.
And More
Local Service Area
Serving all of Washington. We insure tree service companies statewide.
Puget Sound: Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue, Olympia.
Eastern Washington: Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee.
Washington line: (509) 355-9480
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker, Washington license #1206881. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Property managers, HOAs and cities ask Washington tree services for $1M/$2M GL with no height limit or removal exclusion, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory wording, stop gap, an umbrella on larger contracts and proof of an active L&I account. Send us the contract's requirements and we'll confirm your policy meets them.
5 Tree Service Exclusions That Can Leave You Uninsured
1. Height limitation
Excludes any work above a set height, often 15 or 20 feet. For a climbing crew, that can remove most of the coverage you're paying for.
2. Tree removal exclusion
Common on policies written for landscapers or lawn care. Pruning is covered, but felling and removal are not.
3. Care, custody or control
Excludes damage to property you're working on or in control of. If the customer's tree lands on their house, check how your policy treats it.
4. Crane, aerial device and independent contractor conditions
Some policies exclude claims involving cranes, bucket trucks or lifts. Others require every climber or sub to carry their own insurance and name you. Uninsured climbers can create both a coverage gap and an L&I bill.
5. No stop gap
Without stop gap, a lawsuit from an injured employee or their family isn't covered by L&I or by a standard GL policy. We review these provisions before you sign and tell you plainly what's covered and what it would cost to fix.
Washington Tree Service Insurance FAQ
Do tree services have to register as contractors in Washington?
Yes. Washington law includes tree removal services in the definition of a contractor, so you must register with L&I, with a bond and general liability insurance on file, before you bid, advertise or work.
Does general liability cover a tree falling on a customer's house?
It can, if your policy is written for tree work and doesn't exclude removals, work above a certain height, or property in your care, custody or control. Check for those exclusions before you bind.
Can I buy workers' comp for my tree service from a private insurer in Washington?
No. Washington workers' comp comes only from L&I. Because L&I coverage doesn't include employer's liability, most tree services add stop gap coverage to their general liability policy.
Can I get insurance if I've had claims or I'm a new business?
Usually, yes. We work with specialty carriers that write new tree services and companies with prior claims, though pricing and terms vary.
What bond and insurance do I need to register a tree service with L&I?
A specialty contractor registered for tree removal needs a $15,000 bond ($30,000 for general contractors) and general liability of at least $250,000 combined single limit, with L&I listed as certificate holder.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO, and WA.
License numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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